Exotic species
Also called: Alien species, Non-native species · Topic: Biodiversity and its Conservation · NCERT: Class 11, Ch 14 "Biodiversity and Conservation"
Meaning
An exotic species is one that people bring into a habitat where it does not occur naturally, on purpose or by accident. Many exotics cause no harm. Some spread fast because the new place has none of their natural enemies. These harmful ones are called invasive alien species. They crowd out native plants and animals. IPBES (2023) found that invasive species played a part in about 60% of recorded extinctions.
Example
Prosopis juliflora, a thorny shrub brought from outside India, has spread over the Banni grasslands of Kachchh, Gujarat. It has pushed out native grasses. Lantana camara, water hyacinth and Parthenium are other exotics that cause harm in India.
Don't confuse with
- Invasive alien species: only those exotics that spread fast and harm native life. Not every exotic is invasive.
- Endemic species: native to one place only, the opposite of introduced.
Related concepts
- Loss of biodiversity
- Habitat loss
- Invasive alien species
- Poaching
- Overfishing
- Extinction
- IPBES
- Living Planet Report